4 Jobs That Offer Flexibility

Everyone knows that the goal of (seemingly endless) years of schooling is to get a job. Some of us have dream jobs in mind — occupations we’ve been planning and working hard for ever since we were young. However, there are sometimes instances when we’ve tried out what we thought we wanted, but eventually realized it’s not the path we want to pursue.

If you have felt this way at any point during your college career thus far, one reason may be that you want something more flexible. Perhaps your original career path involves a strict schedule with little free time outside of the workday, or maybe the work hours themselves aren’t the most productive times for you.

Personally, having an internship in a corporate environment this summer has opened my eyes to what kinds of jobs I do and don’t want to pursue in the future. I’m finding that the typical 9-5 office job perhaps isn’t the best fit for me, as I would prefer to be moving around and engaging with other people more often throughout the day. Yet, for others, this schedule may sound appealing.

Whatever you prefer, there are a number of excellent jobs out there that offer a great deal of flexibility and which will work reasonably well with your own schedule.

Actuary

Forbes reports that actuaries have the benefits of both lucrative pay and flexibility. If you are interested in mathematics, this may be the job for you: actuaries use statistics and financial theory to assess the risk that an event will occur, and help businesses and clients develop policies that minimize the cost of that risk, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Although some actuaries do follow a standard 9-5 office routine, their jobs often provide a good balance between work and personal life. Additionally, many who work as consultants are able to set their own schedules.

My father, who is an actuary, certainly has flexible work hours. As of now, he is able to work from home twice a week; when he goes into the office, he has to complete eight hours for the day but isn’t held to specific clock-in or clock-out times. Plus, he always has time after work to spend the rest of the evening with my family and me at home.

IT

Many jobs in IT, such as information security analysts and managers, are flexible. IT jobs can be found in a variety of industries, so if you are interested in technology-related careers, you have the option to branch out into many different fields.

According to Business News Daily, information security analysts and managers work on technical projects, as well as assess, develop, and troubleshoot a company’s information security systems and programs.

What makes IT a flexible career option? Many IT workers are able to telecommute, meaning that they can work from home while using phone, email, and Internet to do their jobs and communicate with colleagues. That way, employees can stay in the comfort of their own homes while getting things done electronically.

This may be a worthwhile option to consider if you are comfortable using technology to collaborate with others and are more productive in your own personal space, rather than in an office.

Freelance writer

This one offers a wide range of possibilities. Freelancers can write for a variety of industries, work from home, and set their own schedules. Oftentimes, they also have the freedom to write about things they are interested in and genuinely care about, which makes their jobs that much more rewarding.

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Graphic designer

Flexibility doesn’t just refer to the structure of a workday; it can also mean that there are many available options to pursue within a certain field.

There are a number of positions within graphic design that are different from the common web design jobs that most people tend to first think of. For example, editorial designers might belong in the publishing or printing industries working on typography and content placement, according to this article on graphic design by Careertopia.

If you look hard enough, there are many jobs out there that offer what you’re looking for: good pay, flexible schedule, and work that you genuinely enjoy. While this list serves as a rather narrow springboard for ideas on flexible jobs, you can use it to start thinking about what career path you would like to pursue, while factoring in work schedule and the variety of fields you could delve into.